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What: “Chicken Soup for the Sports Fan’s Soul”

Authors: Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Mark and Chrissy Donnelly, Jim Tunney

Publisher: Health Communications

Price: $12.95

If you happen to experience a post-holiday letdown, this book is the perfect cure. Its 101 inspirational stories are guaranteed to lift your spirits. That is the popular premise of the “Chicken Soup” books. For this one, the authors solicited help from former NFL referee Jim Tunney, a motivational speaker and author.

Tunney spent nearly three years collecting more than 1,000 uplifting and inspirational sports stories from writers, sports celebrities and everyday folks. Then he had to pare them to 101, including some of his own stories.

The book is dedicated to the late Jim Murray, who often said, “I’ve never been unhappy in a ballpark.” It’s noted that Murray’s writing reflected that joy and appreciation, and the same can be said for the stories in this book.

The first one is a real grabber. It is written by Andy Strasberg, who grew up in New York, not far from Yankee Stadium, then came West to work in marketing for the San Diego Padres. In 1960, when Strasberg was 11, he became a huge Roger Maris fan. He writes about an astounding twist of fate. Strasberg and Maris ended up becoming friends, and today one of Maris’ grandchildren is Strasberg’s godson.

“Sometimes when I’m happy, I cry,” broadcaster Jack Buck is quoted as saying inside the front cover. “This book made me very happy.” It will indeed make you cry.

The stories are diverse. Some are written by or about superstars. There’s a story about the scout Branch Rickey sent to check out Jackie Robinson with the Kansas City Monarchs. There’s also a story about an uncoordinated little leaguer making a season-saving catch.

Announcer Jim Nantz writes about his colleague, Ken Venturi, winning golf’s 1964 U.S. Open, Lesley Visser writes about accompanying Martina Navratilova back to her home in Czechoslovakia and the reception the tennis legend received. Olympic decathlon gold medalist Rafer Johnson writes about choosing UCLA and then getting an inspiring letter from the California athletic director. Retired NFL star Steve Young is a contributor, and so are television’s Dick Vitale, Roy Firestone and Chris Myers.

Under the title, “The Greatest Baseball Story Ever,” is a story about why Lou Gehrig said: “Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”

Announcer Bob Costas’ eulogy to Mickey Mantle is included, and the book ends with an essay by Sports Illustrated’s Rick Reilly, who, through a conversation with his 14-year-old son, tells us why we’re here.